Warning that relief convoy for Gaza too little, too late

Aid agencies warned yesterday that the humanitarian help set to arrive in Gaza today could be too little and too late for many of the territory’s desperate population, as preparations were made for a small convoy of lorries to cross the border.

- Julian Borger

The US president, Joe Biden, brokered a deal with Israel and Egypt during his visit to Israel on Wednesday, for an initial convoy of 20 trucks to pass through the Rafah crossing from Egypt to Gaza today. Under conditions demanded by Israel , further consignments will depend on the fi rst delivery being distributed without Hamas involvement.

Today’s aid delivery will take place under the shadow of a threatened ground offensive by Israeli troops massed along Gaza’s borders.

Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant, addressed the troops yesterday, telling them: “You see Gaza now from a distance, you will soon see it from inside. The command will come.” The prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told his visiting British counterpart, Rishi Sunak: “This is our darkest hour .”

Aid agencies have said delays in agreeing the relief shipment had undoubtedly cost the lives of Palestinians, who have been under bombardment and total blockade since the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,400 people.

They also said it was a pitiful amount for 2.3 million people who were heavily dependent on aid even before basic supplies, water, fuel and electricity were cut off . More than 3,000 people have been killed in 12 days, according to Gaza officials.

The emergencies director of the World Health Organization, Michael Ryan, said aid needed to get in “every day”, and called the initial convoy of 20 trucks “a drop in the ocean of need right now”.